Links on a memorable Thursday afternoon for Brooks Conrad and the Braves…
- Kevin Millar will join NESN as an analyst, according to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). Millar signed with the St. Paul Saints earlier this month.
- The Yankees signed utility player Jeff Natale and assigned him to Triple A, according to Pete Cava of the Times Leader via River Ave. Blues. The 27-year-old posted a .298/.432/.446 line in five seasons in the Red Sox organization.
- Royals GM Dayton Moore says winning the World Series is an eight or ten year process, according to MLB.com's Dick Kaegel.
- Sam Miller and Dan Woike of the Orange County Register run through some players the Angels could target, including Miguel Tejada and Will Ohman.
- Top Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish says his father has known agents like Arn Tellem and Scott Boras for years, according to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker who translated from Chunichi. Darvish says he wants to keep playing in Japan.
- Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post wonders if the Marlins should trade Hanley Ramirez. It's a hypothetical question as the Marlins aren't looking to move their shortstop.
- Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says Pirates manager John Russell deserves an extension, especially now that some top Pirates prospects are nearing the major leagues.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer understands why Ken Griffey Jr. wants to play, but questions whether Junior deserves a roster spot on the Mariners.
- Adam LaRoche explained in March that he didn't reject a two-year $17MM offer from the Giants, even though they were interested in him last winter. He repeated as much to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, adding that he has no hard feelings towards the Giants.
pft, Hanley could have shot Gonzalez in the locker room and they still wouldnt trade him. odds are the team would replace Gonzalez before moving Hanley
Can never say no player is expandable, because with the right offer, he would be traded. Personally, I think it would take more to get Ramirez than Pujols. And him being a lot cheaper than Pujols would be. I do agree Gonzalez would be gone before Ramirez.
Well, a lot of Ramirez value depends on the fact that he plays one of the hardest positions to play, and he does it decently as well as hit for a great average. The problem with Pujols is that 1b is an easy spot to fill with lesser production at a much lower cost.
Not just John Russell deserves an extension, Huntington deserves one also. And maybe Coonelly, depends on his current contract.
I don’t think Russell deserves an extension. While I do feel bad for him in that his team keeps getting shuffled around every year and it seemed like every month last year, I just don’t think he’s that good of a coach. He shuffles the lineup all the time and keeps batting Aki in the 2 hole when is OPS is under .300. Not his fault that he sucks but still. I’d like to see someone with a little more life coaching the team.
Also, we’re seeing teams like the Nats, Padres, and Blue Jays win while in the middle of a rebuilding effort and we’ve yet to see any tangible results for the Pirates. Seems like Jones and McCutchen are the whole offense right now with someone else having a good game or two then sucking for the next few weeks.
Just because Alvarez, Tabata, and Lincoln appear to be Major league ready does not mean any of the aforementioned guys deserve an extension yet. And especially no to Russell. Gene Collier is such a freaking idiot. This is the same guy who was irritated that we didn’t sign Jim Thome to play first base for this year.
“No imminent dynasty requires Russell’s presence, but, if Coonelly even suspects this club is on the verge of competence, he owes the manger an extension through 2011.”
No, he owes the fans a ton more than he owes Russell.
Just because Alvarez, Tabata, and Lincoln appear to be Major league ready does not mean any of the aforementioned guys deserve an extension yet. And especially no to Russell. Gene Collier is such a freaking idiot. This is the same guy who was irritated that we didn’t sign Jim Thome to play first base for this year.
“No imminent dynasty requires Russell’s presence, but, if Coonelly even suspects this club is on the verge of competence, he owes the manger an extension through 2011.”
No, he owes the fans a ton more than he owes Russell.
There is no package that would be worth trading Hanley for that another team would offer in a million years.
Right on this point. It’s not like the Marlins have ever traded franchise, future Hall of Fame talent away in the past.
Anyone can be traded. Hanley would be at the top of most clubs wish lists. If the Marlins want to get younger and cheaper moving Hanley is the best card they can play.
But what package would another team actually part with that would provide as much value as one player as great as Ramirez? And who have the Marlins ever traded that was as good as Hanley and under reasonable, long-term control?
There are plenty of options out there. Whether teams would be willing to do it or not I have no idea. You have to think that if Atlanta was willing to give up Hanson or Heyward that Florida would listen. Those guys are league minimum for another 2 years. Under team control for 5 or 6 more years.
I’m not suggesting that a trade is likely or that the Marlins have faced this EXACT situation. However, the Marlins have been very bold in moving franchise player talent in the past. Miggy Cabrera was no slouch. Sheff played for 4 seasons – where he posted an OPS of nearly 1000 over that time frame. The guy was 28 when he departed. Delgado was there for one year. But during his time he put up a monster year and still had plenty of good years ahead of him.
You can go down the list of talent that Florida developed or acquired and then later moved in a trade (while these players were all still extremely productive) … Kevin Brown, Mike Piazza, Moises Alou, Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Livan Hernandez, Derrek Lee, and Ivan Hernandez among others. None of them are Hanley Ramirez but those are some big time names in there. I guess my point is that Florida hasn’t been afraid to move popular players in their prime. Very few teams have been as bold as Florida over the past 10-12 years.
Most of those guys were very close to free agency when the Marlins traded them. The only one of them who was as good as Hanley was Piazza, and he was in his walk year. Hanley is locked up. The man put up OPS in the mid 900s and OPS+ in the 140s for three straight years while playing shortstop. That’s much more valuable than Cabrera or Sheffield has ever been. Frankly, it’s hard to project Heyward to be that good, and there’s zero chance the Braves would trade Heyward.
Darvish is such a tease! He needs to pitch against the big boys from the states. He would look sweet in pinstripes!
vomit
hahaaha
Royals GM Dayton Moore’s dismissal is an eight to ten week process. Trust the process, people.
Sounds about right. If expansion franchises can reach the playoffs within five years, then why can’t an established team do so that quickly? Reaching the postseason should be the initial goal, because from that point forward it’s a crapshoot. Just ask the Marlins, who’ve won as a wild card entry both times.
“Moore declines to single out players he envisions in a Kansas City uniform in the near future, but there are obvious standouts –…first baseman Kila Ka’aihue, ”
Well, obvious to everybody but Moore….
What about the last 24 years, Royals? Are they included too or does 10 years really mean +30?
I feel sorry for the Royal fans right now.
The best place for Darvish is right where he is. Time and time again these Japanese pitchers come to the MLB and after a season or so theyre average to below average. Its happened nearly every time. Nomo was great but not for real long. Irabu was never real good. Matsuzaka certainly isnt worth the $17m a year he is costing the Red Sox(that doesnt even include the bonuses he has gotten). I think there is just something about the Japanese pitchers habits or the way they learned to pitch that just doesnt match them up well in the MLB. Their funky deliveries baffle guys for a short time but they get figured out.
As long as Dayton Moore is running the Royals it’ll be an 8-10 year process.
NESN really has been on a hiring analysts spree. I am am glad that he will be with Boston in some way though, I love his antics, would make a great color commentator
NESN really has been on a hiring analysts spree. I am am glad that he will be with Boston in some way though, I love his antics, would make a great color commentator